BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Luke 17:10
Heroes are often decorated for going “above and beyond the call of duty” to perform some feat not required in the ordinary normal course of their obligations. It might shock some church members who pride themselves on doing their duty to be told that they are unprofitable servants, but such we are if we merely do what is normally required of us. Now, it is a good thing to do our duty, and most of us do not even get that far. But we can get that far and merit no better word than “unprofitable.” Alas, some of our best church workers and busiest religious folk never get beyond this category.
God’s awards are for the Saints of the Second Mile who go above and beyond the call of duty. It is not whipping ourselves up to increased quantity production that is in mind here. It is the spontaneous and overflowing ministry that does far more for Jesus than it has to just because we love Him so.
We are glad to do far more than our duty for those we love on earth. Shall we do less for the Lover of our souls?